Tom Izzo admits 2024-25 team wasn't one of his "top 20 most talented" teams

Over the years, Tom Izzo has coached some supremely talented teams at Michigan State.

The Hall of Famer has coached some guys who have turned into NBA stars (Draymond Green, Jaren Jackson Jr., Miles Bridges) as well as some who were elite college players but just didn't have the same pro potential (Cassius Winston, Kalin Lucas, Mateen Cleaves).

Izzo knows what elite talent is, and he knows that his 2024-25 team was one of the most special that he's coached since taking over the program.

The 2024-25 team was definitely special, but if you ask Izzo, it wasn't even close to being one of his most talented. He said that the 2024-25 team probably wasn't even one of his "top 20 most talented" teams since he's been at Michigan State.

"We weren't picked (to finish) that high, and rightfully so," Izzo said. "We had a good team. It wasn't maybe my top 20 most talented teams, but it was maybe my top five most together teams."

Izzo went on to say that the Spartans were really good at the free throw line, great defensively, and good down the stretch with the bench points being "off the charts". That's what made Michigan State so good last season. It wasn't an overload of talent, although I do think saying it wasn't a top 20 most talented team in the Izzo era is a little too harsh, but it had enough depth and togetherness to wear opposing teams down.

Michigan State will try to replicate that "togetherness" this season as the Spartans likely won't be one of Izzo's most talented teams, but, again, there's enough there and the depth should be solid.

Let's just hope for better 3-point shooting this season.